Toy corner block construction



May 19, 1936.

F. E. JONES ET AL TCY CORNER BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 4, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Frances E. Jones and BY Franc/'5. D.Jones ATTORNEY May 19, 1936. F. 5. JONES ET AL TOY CORNER BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 4, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Frances E-Jones am BY Francis 0- Jones ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,041,069 TOY CORNER BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Frances E. Jones and Francis D. Jones, Helena, Mont.

Application September 4, 1934, Serial No. 742,563

11 Claims.

. nected end to end in transverse interlocked relation so that the height of the corner block may be increased as additional wall forming blocks are secured thereto whereby walls of various heights may be readily and quickly formed;

Second, to provide a construction of this class wherein the several corner blocks when connected and transversely interlocked end to end form a rigid unit with the cross section being constant throughout, there being no enlarged portionsat the juncture between the several corner blocks;

Third, to provide a construction of this class which permits the assembling of toy houses or the like in such a manner that all of the several parts are firmly held together yet may be readily} disassembled as well as assembled without the use of tools;

Fourth, to provide a construction of this class which is applicable to a number of different uses and which is so arranged that several member may be held relative thereto, and which in particular is adapted to support a rafter member in proper relationthereto and holds in position wall block and other members in proper relation thereto;

Fifth, to provide a toy block construction of this class wherein a few or large number of radiating webs may be provided and arranged in various angular relations to each other whereby walls ,or the like for various purposes may be connected thereby; and Sixth, to provide on the whole a novelly constructed corner block arrangement which is particularly simple and economical of manufacture, sturdy of construction, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, our invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which;

Figure l is a. perspective view of our corner block construction showing several block members connected end to end, and withfione end piece separated therefrom to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 2 is a top end View of our corner block; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side .elevational view thereof with parts and portions broken away and in section and the members slightly separated; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of our corner block construction showing one end piece separated to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of our corner block construction showingits application to the holding in proper relation thereto the wall blocks and the supporting of rafter members; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with parts and portions shown in section to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 7 is a sectional view through of Fig. 5 with parts and portions broken away or in elevation to facilitate the illustration; and Fig. 8 is a partial-sectional and partial-plan view through 8--8 of Fig. 7.

Similar characters of reference refer to simie lar parts and portions throughout the'several views of the drawings.

With reference particularly to Fig. 1 it will be noted that our toy corner block construction comprises a center or core member I which is of any suitable length and is square in section. Formed in each wall of the core member I is a centered longitudinally extending groove or channel F Each channel is. adapted to receive a web member 2. For corner blocks other than end or base forming members the webs 2 are offset axially in respect to the core. One pair of diametrically disposed webs is offset downwardly while the other pair is offset upwardly; thus each web forms at one end an axially protruding portion 2 while at the opposite end the core is disposed with a corresponding portion of its channel protruding axially as indicated by l When the core I is' square and provided with four radiating webs,

three axially spaced planes are defined at each end of the block; the first, designated A, being defined by the axially inward ends of one pair of webs 2 with respect to the core; the second plane B, defined by the corresponding end of the core; and the third or outer plane C, defined by the protruding extremities of the other pair of webs.

By turning the end of one block degrees with respect to the other, plane C of one block coin.- cides with plane A of the other block so that the two blocks may be secured in axial alinement. The protruding portions of 2 fit in the opposed ends l of the channel I. With this arrangement the blocks are securedagainst any movement except relative axial shifting.

It is sometimes desirable to provide a fiat end for the corner forming block; This is accom.- plished by a complementary block comprising a core '3having the'same section as the core I and 7 provided with axially extending channels 1! therein in alinement with the channels Ia. In two diametricallydisposed channels 3 there is fitted web members 4 with their oneends fiush with one end of the core member'3, and with their other ends protruding. The lengths of the web 4 are equal'to the difference in height between the planes Arand C of the above described block. The protruding ends, designated 4a of the block 4, are adapted to fit in the exposed portions of thechannels I while the open channels 3a receive the protruding portions 2* of' the web ,2.

It'is preferred to arrange the several planes A,

B, Qin'equally spaced relation. The radial extremities of the several Webs 2 are provided with axially extending beads or cylindri cal portions 2 which are circular in form and larger in diameter than thewidth of the web. The webs and their beads are adapted to fitinto corresponding adjacent slots provided in the ends or otherwise positionedin wall forming members,

7 or the like, suggested in Figs. 5 to 8, it being noted that the wall forming members may include outer wall blocks, finish blocks, partition wall blocks complementary blocks. The

' proper relative positions. For'example, the wall or any construction blocks or members super posed or otherwise. r

Reference is now directed "to Fig. 4. The structure here illustrated is similar in most respects to the above described structure; however, the core designated 6 while square in section is provided with longitudinal channels fi in only two adjacent sides. These receive webs I similar'to the webs 2 which are disposed in axially offset relation with the core 6 so as to form pro truding web portions 1 at one side and protrud-. ing channel portions 6 at the adjacent side of the core 6 and they are in reverse relation at the opposite ends of the block. As in the case of the web members 2, the web members I are provided with beads I along their extended edges.

With this structure also itis desirable to have complementary block shown in Fig. 4 at the upper end which is applicable to either end of the main block mem- V ber comprises a core 8' having channels B arranged similarly to the channels 6, and one of which receives .web 9 arranged with its one end flush with the surface or end of the core 8 and with'the other end protruding forming interlock ing portions 9 adapted to fit in the exposed portions'li of the channel I5 at either end of the core member 6. 7

Reference is now directed. to Figs. 5 to 8, inclusiv'e; By reason of the stepped relation of the ends "of 'theizbl'ocks, illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, said corner block isadapted to support. by its ends several members, so that they are tied in their blocks I0 and rafter I I may be heldin their proper relation; For this purpose the wall blocks III are provided with sockets 'IIl which are adapted to fit over and interlock with a web 2, and these wall blocks may vary in width and may be superposedand 'c onnected' in like manner. member II is provided with a notched portion I I in-its under side adapted to receive an end and corresponding'portion of "the one side of the core I. Extending upwardly from the top wall of the notched portion 1 Ia at opposite vertical sides of the rafter are channels II which are disposed obliquely with respect to the rafter or'roof supporting member; The channels I I are adapted to'receive the protruding ends 2' of the webs 2.

Though'we have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrange- The rafter ment of parts and portions, and certain modifications thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the particular construction, combination and arrangement, nor to the modificationabut desire to include in the scope of our invention theconstruction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

r 1'. A toy connecting'block construction comprising, a core member, interlocking ribs permanently-fixed thereto and extending longitudinally therewith provided with enlarged interlocking edges, said ribs divided into groups oifset longitudirially in opposite directions whereby one group protrudes beyond one end of said core member and'the other group protrudes beyond the other end of said core member whiletheremainin'g ends of said ribs are disposed inwardly from the corresponding'ends of said core member.

; 2. A toy connecting block construction comprising; a core member, interlocking ribs permanently fixed thereto and extending longitudinally therewith provided with enlarged interlocking edges, said ribs divided into groups oifset'longitudinally in opposite directions whereby one group protrudes beyond one end of said core mem her and the other group protrudes beyond'the other end of said core member while the remaining endsof said ribs are disposed inwardly from the corresponding ends of said core member, and connecting means formed by the protruding ends of said ribs and the ends of said core member for facilitating connection of a plurality of blocks in end-to-end relation. 7

3. In a device of the class described, a connecting block construction comprising, a core member, interlocking ribs permanently fixed thereto and extending longitudinally in opposite-directions. whereby one group protrudes beyond one end of said core member and the other group,

protrudes beyond the other end of said core member while'the remaining ends of saidribs are dis pos'ed inwardly from the corresponding ends of said core member, each of said ribs provided with an enlarged interlocking outer edge, connecting means formed by the protruding ends 01. said ribs and the ends of said core member for facilitating connection of a plurality of blocks in end-to-end relation, and a separate companion block including a core, ribs fixed thereon terminating at one end in flush relation with said core, and connecting elements adapted to co-act with said connecting means to compensate for the difference in positions of the various extreme portions of the connecting block. V

4.111 a device of the class described, a connecting block construction comprising, a core member, interlocking ribs permanently fixed thereto and extending longitudinally therewith,

said ribs divided into groups ofiset longitudinally in opposite direction whereby one group protrudes beyond one end of said core member and the other group protrudes beyond 'the'other end of said core member while the remaining ends of said ribs are disposed inwardly from the corresponding ends of said core member each of said ribs provided with an enlarged interlocking outer edge, and a companion block includinga core,

interlocking ribs fixed thereto and extending axially therealong, said companion block forming at one end a fiat base and extending at its opposite end to compensate for axial displacement'of the interlocking ribs and core of said connecting block.

5. In a device of the class described, a connecting block construction comprising, a core member, radiating interlocking members permanently fixed thereto and extending therefrom each of said interlocking members provided with an enlarged interlocking outer edge, some of said interlocking members axially protruding beyond portions of said core member and a portion of said interlocking members for facilitating connection of a plurality of said blocks end-to-end, and a companion block including a core, interlocking members fixed thereto and extending therefrom, the one end of said companion block forming a fiat base, and elements at the other end thereof arranged to co-act with said means.

6. In a means of the class described, a connecting block construction comprising, a core,

member, interlocking ribs permanently fixed thereto and extending longitudinally therewith, each of said interlocking ribs provided with an enlarged interlocking outer edge, said ribs divided into groups offset longitudinally in opposite directions whereby one group protrudes beyond one end of said core member and the other group protrudes beyond the other end of said core member while the remaining ends of said ribs are disposed inwardly from the corresponding ends of said core member, a wall block, and connection means for interlocking said wall block with an end portion of an interlocking rib.

7. In a means of the class described, a connecting block construction comprising, a core member, interlocking ribs fixed thereto and extending longitudinally therewith, said ribs divided into groups offset longitudinally in opposite directions whereby one group protrudes beyond one end of said core member and the other group protrudes beyond the other end of said core member while the remaining ends of said ribs are disposed inwardly from the corresponding ends of said core member, a horizontally extendable member including connection means at an end arranged to interlock with an end of an interlocking rib, a sloping member adapted to rest on said connecting block, and including connecting elements arranged to co-act with the end portions of other interlocking ribs.

8. In a means of the class described, a toy connecting block construction comprising, a core member, interlocking ribs fixed thereto with interlocking portions extending outwardly from said core member, a wall block member includinga connecting means arranged to co -act with an inwardly disposed end of an interlocking rib, and a rafter member including a notched portion at its under side, and connecting elements formed obliquely in opposite sides arranged to co-act with the protruding ends of other interlocking ribs for supporting said rafter in a sloping position.

9. A toy connecting block construction comprising, a core member, radiating interlocking members permanently fixed thereto and extending therefrom, and longitudinally therewith said interlocking members axially offset longitudinally in fixed relation with respect to said core member, and separate conforming co-acting means formed at the axially protruding portions of said core member and said interlocking members for facilitating connection of a plurality of said blocks end-to-end.

10. A toy connecting block construction comprising, a core member, interlocking means permanently fixed thereto and extending from the wall thereof outwardly and enlarged at the outer edges and extending axially and continuously along the sides thereof, and connecting means comprising an element fixed thereto at an ex- U I tremity of said core member and a complementary element at the opposite extremities of said interlocking means, the one element of one block adapted to co-act with the complementary element of another separate block for securing said blocks in end-to-end relation.

11. A toy connecting block construction comprising, an elongated body element, provided with slots longitudinally therein, complementary connecting means at the extremities thereof for endto-end connection of a series of said blocks, and continuous interlocking ribs permanently fixed in said slots extending from end-to-end of said body element, the ribs of a series of said blocks arranged to occupy abutting relations when said blocks are joined and are of constant cross section throughout the series.

FRANCES E. JONES. FRANCIS D. JONES. 

